I do not have a merchandise line. I don't sell knives or apparel. Though I have been approached to endorse various products from liquor to airlines to automobiles to pharmaceuticals dozens of times, I have managed to resist the temptation.

I am in no way supportive of hunting for trophies or sport - would never do it and don't like it that others do. But if you kill it, then eat it, it's fine.

I wanted it to look like real cooking in someone's real home or just so out-of-there bizarre that it would be fun.

For me, the cooking life has been a long love affair, with moments both sublime and ridiculous.

I’m always secretly the most pleased when a show just really, really looks good and when my camera guys are really happy with the images they got.

Italy is good in the sense that when you bring a child to a restaurant in Italy, they're happy to see it. The waiters will say "complimenti" and welcome you and dote after the kid. They don't treat you like you just brought in this horrible probably soon-to-be-squealing creature who's going to be difficult.

The cookbooks I value the most in my collection are the ones where you hear the author's voice and point-of-view in every recipe.